LUMS hosts international education summit to promote evidence-based reforms in Pakistan

LAHORE, Nov 01 (APP):The two-day Data and Research in Education Research Consortium (DARE-RC) International Education Summit 2026 (EDCON26), co-hosted by the Syed Ahsan Ali and Syed Maratib Ali School of Education (SOE), concluded at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) on Sunday, bringing together researchers, policymakers, education practitioners, funders and sector leaders.

Held under the theme “From Evidence to Action,” the summit examined findings from 44 research studies and scoping papers aimed at strengthening evidence-based policymaking and identifying priorities for education reforms in Pakistan.

Maria Wyard, Head of Human Capital, Inclusion and Governance at the British High Commission, said that with resources under pressure in Pakistan and globally, it was essential to make better use of existing evidence and address critical knowledge gaps.

She said the UK had invested in DARE to strengthen Pakistan’s education evidence base, improve access to high-quality data and support informed policy decisions based on evidence rather than assumptions.

The opening session featured remarks by Federal Secretary of Education Nadeem Mahbub, LUMS Vice Chancellor Dr Ali Cheema and Dr Adil Najam, President of WWF International and former LUMS vice chancellor.

The summit also featured discussions on the importance of evidence in education reforms, with contributions from leading education sector representatives, including Shehzad Roy, CEO of Zindagi Trust; Dr Asyia Kazmi, CEO of WISE, Qatar Foundation; Nishat Riaz, Chief Executive of Malala Fund Pakistan; Riaz Kamlani, COO of The Citizens Foundation; and Abid Suleri, Executive Director of SDPI.

The first day focused on synthesising DARE-RC research findings on data and artificial intelligence, teaching and the education workforce, inclusion and climate resilience. The second day examined ways to translate research into policy action, covering governance and accountability, language policy and scaling up successful interventions.

Three policy labs brought researchers and policymakers together to identify future priorities for evidence-based education reforms in Pakistan.

Government representatives from the federal and provincial levels also shared their perspectives on education policy and implementation, including officials from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The closing session featured insights from Silwat Saeed, Secretary of the Environment Protection and Climate Change Department, Punjab; Qaisar Alam, Managing Director of ESEF, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; and Lal Jan Jaffar, Secretary of the School Education Department, Balochistan.

Research Director of DARE-RC Dr Monazza Aslam said synthesising the programme’s extensive research was increasingly important as challenges facing Pakistan’s education system were becoming more complex and interconnected.

She said the collective findings helped identify what works, for whom and under what conditions, providing a stronger basis for building equitable, effective and resilient education systems, particularly for marginalised communities.

The summit marked the conclusion of the DARE-RC programme, which has generated substantial research evidence, strengthened engagement between researchers and policymakers and developed a network of education researchers across Pakistan.

The Syed Ahsan Ali and Syed Maratib Ali School of Education at LUMS, a strategic partner of DARE-RC, will continue the EDCON conference series to sustain the programme’s research legacy and promote the role of academia in improving education outcomes in Pakistan.